Peak Oil Hits the Mainstream

Oct 30, 2009

Energy issues have been front and center over the past few days, what with the escalating tensions with Iran, the run-up in crude prices, and the release of a GAO (Government Accountability Office) report on the threat posed by peak oil.

The latter is amazing, in a way: The report itself is nothing earth shattering (it says oil production is likely to peak between now and 2040… gee, thanks a million), and that we're utterly unprepared for it (really, now?). What's noteworthy is the mere existence of the report, and the fact that the issue is now making its way into the mainstream media (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fo3sxhBylw).
Let's not kid ourselves: This issue is still WAY off the radar of the average American. But then again, only a few short years ago, so was global warming. Allow me a moment to gaze into my solar-powered crystal ball: It won't be long before peak oil can no longer be ignored. Stay tuned.
Then again, maybe not: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/30/business/30gas.html
It's stories like these that make me worry.